Emergency last minute Christmas sort myself out!

[Seaography]

I have gained a stone in the last 6 months and was already 1/2 a stone heavier than I wanted to be and feel very bloated, frazzled, grey and rough round the edges. I am realistic, I am not going to be slim and gorgeous by Christmas eve but I could be feeling and looking much better.

I started today doing the fast diet with lots of good fats and did a shred session and hot yoga class. Am currently in an Epsom salt bath with a hair mask and face mask and am planning an early night.

My plan is to keep this up, drink a lot more water, lots of exfoliating and moisturising all over, my skin is oily but dehydrated. Tint my brows, lashes and colour my hair. I haven't got time for the dentist but have a good whitening toothpaste and will cut down on the tea and eliminate red wine for the week! Going to shave, do a little mani and pedi and generally feel a bit slimmer and more polished.

I had my hair cut a couple of weeks ago so am golden there and have enough beauty products to power a small beauty salon.

Any one have any advice to offer or want to join in?

I would love to join 🎄
I am very similar - had a stressful few months mental health wise so have decided that I'm putting myself first for a change.
So far I have just done my nails and brows - I have signed up to a boot camp come 1st Jan so I'm eating more healthier and moving more to prepare for that and will do a fake tan next week so I don't look as pallid.
Looking forward to hearing others tips for making them self feel better ahead of next week 🤶

I drop the obvious carbs as it also means i lose my appetite for crap food. in the short term i feel less bloated.

I'm so terrible at this and have become really disheartened by yo yo dieting and exercising, gaining ground and then losing it again during this pandemic. So, this week I started: 1) Eating in a6 hr window. 2) Cycling 10 miles 6/7 days and 3) Walking 5 miles 6/7 days I bought an exercise bike so the cycling gets done in front of the TV to make things easier, and a treadmill so that I don't have to faff with clothes and weather and whatnot.

That's all a big jump from a sedentary lifestyle resulting from the pandemic and gaining 2 st and my back already feels better (started Wednesday).

I'm not good at dieting and calorie counting and the current is pretty good (my portion sizes are not!) so I'm just keeping a diary of unhealthy choices for now, knowing I'm tracking it is helping me to reduce.

My plan is to do this for now through January as a way of pushing a rest button. And then ease up.

I need to paint my nails and work on my overgrown cuticles. I was going to get my brows done but I'm vulnerable so that's out for now, I can tidy them up at home.

I think a new perfume can help life the spirits if budgets allow.

I'm also going to dry body brush to get my circulation going to my palid winter skin.

Did a face mask and pore strip last night, I'm going to repeat weekly.

Weirdly I'm also going to try standing/sitting up a bit straighter as the last hard few years have left my posture all hunched. Not healthy or flattering.

I need to switch my snacks, morning sickness has left me reaching for the dry carbs but im going to try and swap to fruit.

It's nice to have some people join in! Glad you made it through last night's thought dump!

Now my head is a bit clearer a big thing for me is not focusing on everything and everyone but myself before Christmas. The house can be up to normal standards. No one is going to be looking in my tool cupboard anyway so why does it need to be cleaned! Good food, plenty of water, sleep and self care can make a big difference. The new year will start more positively too instead of being burnt out by that point.

Got up this morning and went to hot yoga and had a low carb breakfast and an extra glass of water. Good start.

@Getouttheregirl Christmas and New Year self care should definitely be a priority. I always leave myself last and actually if I let go of perfection take care of myself I will have more of the important stuff to give. DD won't remember if under the beds were vacuumed but she will remember a happier more engaged mother.

Good for you, @Seaography ! It's really great to hear of women putting themselves first during this time of year. I completely agree that we put ridiculous pressure on ourselves to be superwoman with immaculate homes, perfectly wrapped gifts & produce the ultimate Christmas feast. All served with simmering resentment and bitterness because we're too bloody frazzled to enjoy it ourselves.

I will join your endeavours this week. I usually take good care of myself with exercise and nutrition but I've had a crappy throat & cold virus for 3 weeks with no energy for exercise and zero appetite. This morning I took one look in the mirror after just 3.5 hours sleep and wanted to weep. I look like I've been dug up. But, on a positive note I am finally feeling well enough to exercise again so got up and got a HIIT workout in, followed by a healthy breakfast.

My top tips for success are:
Always exercise first thing in the morning (even if you have to get up earlier): there will always be a reason not to later in the day.
Drink loads of water & keep hand cream & lip balm to hand & reapply regularly.
Get outside for a good brisk walk every day - even if it's raining. It will help reset your brain and reduce stress which in turn has a positive impact on skin & hair.
Try to sneak in "treatments" whilst you're doing other things eg put on a face mask whilst you cook supper.
Keep foot balm on your bedside table so you can slather it on when you get into bed.
Take 10 minutes in the early evening to stretch your body and breathe deeply. Also scrunch/stretch the muscles in your face too. It will increase blood flow, improve skin tone & you'll look and feel better and you'll begin to notice a difference with your sleep too.
Sleep!